A woman was blasted as 'shallow' and 'controlling' after she admitted she had lost respect for her husband when he passed up a promotion.

The high-flying executive revealed she was initially attracted to her husband's ambition and felt the career decision meant he was no longer the man she married.

Taking to Mumsnet, she wrote: 'I hate that I feel I don't respect him anymore because I used to be so proud of him.'

While a handful of users tried to understand the poster's point of view, dozens of others attacked her 'controlling' behaviour - and some even urged her to split from her husband.

Shared values: The woman revealed she was initially attracted to her husband's ambition

The self-confessed 'tiger wife' explained her software engineer husband had joined a company with the intention of eventually taking on a more senior role but when the role came up, he decided not to apply and so it was given to a colleague instead.

She wrote: 'It really bothered me. I know I might be seen as a b**** but a big part of why I fell in love and how I see him was his ambition.

'I don't care if that makes me a 'tiger wife' or any other label. I care that my [husband] should not put himself in a position that will endanger our financial future.

Support: Some users agreed the not to put himself forward for the promotion was 'selfish'

'It's irresponsible and selfish unless he has another realistic plan for when the job becomes obsolete.'

Another posted: 'I get what you mean OP. If you commit to marry someone and share your life as a partnership then it's based on a shared set of values and ambitions. If your shared and agreed route is that you will both push as hard as you can to get as far in your careers as possible then that's fine. It's the changing of the shared plan that's thrown you.'

However dozens of others hit back at the wife's 'shallow' take on the situation, with one writing: 'Yeah, you probably are being a b****'.

Backlash: Others criticised the executive for not being more understanding and supportive

Another said: 'You should really love your dh for who he is not what he can give you.'

A third posted: 'You must be quite insecure if your husband's job has anything at all to do with how you feel about him and respect him. A job doesn't define you and it's not a measure of how people perceive you, not really.'

Several users questioned how she would handle other obstacles in the future.

Work-life balance: Some users urged the wife to consider the benefits the current role offers

'If you can't cope with him seeming less ambitious than you once thought him, how will you cope when he starts ageing?,' one asked. 'If he develops a long-term illness? When he gets to the time of life where he starts slowing down?'

Another posted: 'To feel unable to love somebody just because they don't go for the right kind of promotion does suggest a rather shallow take on 'for better for worse'.'

Others took a more moderate approach and offered advice, with one posting: 'You obviously both need to have a conversation, but I'd avoid telling him that you have lost respect for him as a result of his decision. For me, that would be the beginning of the end.'